HIS DEBT, MY RUIN

Chapter 2

Lily's pov

I could hear my heart pounding as I hesitated my steps on the empty streets. When I thought about what happened, pain tightened my chest. Hot tears mixed with the evening's cool air. I couldn't think of anywhere to go, I had nobody to talk to or confide in until I remembered my childhood friend who was in town for a visit.

“Dayo” I whispered his name while getting out my phone from my pocket to call him. The phone was ringing on the other end.

Then he answered on the third ring, “Lily” he said sounding surprised I called, “You don't sound okay, where are you?”

The concern in his voice broke me over again, “Can I... can I come over? I need—I just need someone who won't lie to me.”

“Of course. Always.”

Dayo's apartment was a twenty-minute walk from our building, but it looks way dìfferent and beautiful than our tiny apartment.His house was well put together, with clean matching furniture, huge television and its stands adorned with artifacts, the kind of life I'd dreamed of having someday.

He took one look at my face and pulled me inside. "Jesus, Lily. What happened to you?"

I fell into the couch nearby and narrated everything to him. Starting from the letter I saw, the nineteen million dollars debt, dad's gambling habits and the slap that still burns my cheeks.

Dayo sat beside me and placed his hand around my shoulders making all the right sounds of shock and sympathy. It was all I needed for that moment.

“I'm so sorry for what happened between you and your father but I can't believe he hit you,” he said, his jaw tightened, “that's unforgivable Lily”.

"I said terrible things to him."

“You said true things." His fingers traced gentle circles on my shoulder. "Lily, you've been helping your father for years, Maybe it's time to stop since he doesn’t value it."

His words were supposed to make me feel hurt but instead I felt like it's a permission to stop catering for the needs of my father which had already drained me enough.

"What should I do now?," I whispered.

"I think I do." Dayo stood up, dragged me with him. “Take a shower to cool off then put on something beautiful, we're going out.”

“I'm financially strained…"

"Dont worry, it's my treat. There's this club I know, a high-end and exclusive club. Lily, you deserve one night where you're not thinking about bills or your father's problems. Just one night to remember you're twenty and allowed to have fun after all I promised you a treat on your birthday last month but I didn't fulfill it, allow me to do it today please."

After the shower, I wore the red dress he placed for me on his king size bed, and it fit like a glove.

I was surprised, the dress looked good on me, it showed my cleavages and my curves which I usually cover under baggy clothes.

The dress really made me feel different.I couldn't even recognise myself, I looked confident, sexy and alive.

"Where did you get this dress?" I asked, running my hands over the silk admiring it

“Not to worry, Lily." He said standing behind me in the mirror, looking handsome in his fitted expensive suit. "You look beautiful Lily.”

The way he looked at my body I thought I saw something in his eyes, but it was gone before I could be sure what it was. I'd a weird feeling and I sensed danger everywhere.

When we arrived at our location, I saw the name of the place boldly written, Velvet, the kind of place I saw only in movies. The place was stunning. There were flowers at the entrance, marble decoration and crystal lights screaming elegance. Beautiful people around, sitting elegantly spending more on drinks than I have made in months. The bouncer waved us through showing so much respect to Dayo as if he was royalty.

Where did you get money for all this luxury? I asked, the question came out instantly the moment we were heading to the bar.

"I told you, I have connections." He ordered champagne cocktails without asking what I wanted. "Drink up. Tonight's about forgetting and having fun."

The alcohol went straight to my head when I sipped it . I didn't eat breakfast, and being emotionally drained made everything hit harder.

As I took the third shot, I felt lightheaded and the room seemed blurry. By the fifth, I was laughing at everything Dayo says, leaning into his warm arms on the dance floor. Dancing and rocking my waist on his while he gripped me tight like I was his woman, enjoying every bit of it.

“You're so beautiful,” he whispered in my ear while caressing my waist. “I've always thought so”.

His words sent shivers down my spine, but before I could process everything he held my arms we moved towards a private elevator.

“ Where are we headed?”

“I remembered something I want us to talk,we are heading to the VIP, its more quieter” he said

The room lights were dim and had expensive furniture, with floor-to-ceiling windows showing the city spread out below us. We were completely alone.

“I think I need some water," I said, sinking onto the plush sofa. The room had rose fragrance which made me sick to my stomach.

"You need to relax." Dayo sat beside me, too close, his hand finding my thigh. "Lily, I've waited long enough for this"

A strong, urgent warning signal is going off in my mind. "Waited for what?"

"For you to finally see me. Really see me." His grip tightened on my leg. "I've watched you waste yourself on that pathetic excuse for a father, working yourself to death, never having time for anything. For me."

"Dayo, I need to go home now." I struggled to stand up but I couldn't because I was tipsy.

"No." His voice was cold and icy now "You're not going anywhere. I've been patient, Lily but tonight, you're finally going to understand how I feel about you."

Terror cut through the alcohol fog as his intentions became crystal clear. I realized he wasn't even my friend he was waiting for my vulnerability to take advantage of it

“Please, don't do this” I whispered but my pleading was to no avail.

His mouth crashed against mine tasting like alcohol, I tried to push him away but he was stronger than I am. The city lights blurred into streaks as I became unconscious.

“Stop” I managed, but it came out as barely a breath. The last thing I heard was the sound of my dress tearing apart and the sad truth that nobody knew where I was.

I woke up on the cold floor, Dayo was gone and my dress was ruined, my body ached, I felt sad and wished I could disappear forever. Shame and horror was like a heavy weight in my heart. The room was empty and silent except from the constant ringing of my phone.

Twenty missed calls from an unknown number and one single message that reads, “Your father has gone missing, come home now!...LM”

Lucas Moretti, the same name written in the debt notice. My trembling hands dropped my phone.

I managed to stand up, holding my torn dress, as my nightmares turned into reality.